Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1887-02-04
Farmers Alliance Meeting.

Farmers Alliance Meeting.
! The following paper was read before
the Farmers Alliance meeting of Jan.
%, and ordered to be printed in the Aus
tin papers:
! Can farmers raise Tomatoes with prof.
it at the price paid at the canning fac
tory?
| The answer to this question depen DIS
mostly upon the knowled and skill of
| the farmer. I have raised tomatoes in
q small way for number of years, but
this business has not been a speciality
with me; have studied somewhat the
conditions Of crop, but do not pretend
to know all there is to know. in order to
make it a success. Some things how
ever, are very evident; these we will
proceed to state.
l. We have pure seed; I mean by
this, unmixed and thoroughly sound.
Last year among my plants ware several
varieties mixed up. Now when this is
the case you cannot obtain so good or so
large crop. At another time planted
| seed that had been kept over; it was old
seed, only part grew. Here again, a
loss was suffered.
2. In order to have your fruit ripen
IN season you must start your plants in
hot bed. AS to size, suit your own con-
venience. I have FIVE sash, 8 by 6 feet
each. Shall make frame of inch
boards, Is by 6 feet, sloping toward the
south. The frame will be 20 inches
deep on the north and II inches on the
south sides; making the slope inches.
Find a warm place, if possible sheltered
from the north winds.
! Now draw horse manure, fresh as
possible from your barn, spread it out
over the place where you design to have
your bed, one foot longer and wider
than your frame, and two feet deep;
work this over thoroughly, keeping the
coarse part at the bottom, or remove it
away: tramp down, let it remain three
OF four days, then cover with 6 or 5 inch
es of soil; on this, place your frame,
sinking it into the soil; on the frame
place your sash-excluding the air as far
aspossible. After the soil becomes warm
and the steam passes of, plant your seed
in drills. Look at your bed daily to see
that it is not over heated and keep it
supplied with moisture. When your
plants are up let in the air by degrees,
so as to harden them off, and transplant
into cold frame as you are able.
| We take it for granted that ground
is selected where you are to plant. It
need not be rich; moderately rich is
best. Let it be plowed deep and har-
rowed thoroughly, being sure to stir the
soil just before planting. Last of all,
plant the ground; make level. Money
is saved by pulverizing and smoothing
the soil. The season is advanced, you
are now making your field. I have found
5 feet by feet good distance apart for
rows: This will require nearly 2200
plants per acre. A man, quick motioned
and boy, can set this in one day. Just
as the small weeds come in sight 20
over your field with cultivator then with
fine tooth harrow. After this, I plant
between rows one way, find it good way
to kill small weeds. As season advances,
some weeds will be left around the plants;
60 in with hoe, also hand pick weeds.
don't let the weeds get ahead of you.
The expense of hoeing will be but tri-
tle if you are prompt. l timed boy
last summer and he was four hours hoe
ing out an acre. It is much easier hoeing
tomatoes than corn or potatoes.
Now the question comes. will it pay?
Let us estimate:
Cost of plants per acre $500
Preparing ground 400
Setting plants 400
Cultivating and planting 900.
Picking and marketing 1900
Whole expense $4,000
The yield, last year, was about $50 bush
els. Sold at the canning factory 217
Notwithstanding the severe drought we
sold over $40 worth of tomatoes; our
most profitable crop, The expenses as
above foot up $40. After expenses were
! paid we had for profit $50
| Suppose our canning factory to become
| success-and am confident it will be.
More than this other factories will spring
| up and demand produce, I am not a
prophet, but [ should say at the least,
10000 bushels will be wanted. This num-
Der at 80 cents per bushel would amount
to $12, 000-quite little sum to be put
| IN the pockets of our farmers.
The men who have the direction of
| our canning factory are business men
The enterprise they oversee is a public
enterprise. They have invested their
money and given their time, more with
an eye to the public good than to their
own pockets. They rigldly economize;
this they must do at first, and this is the
strongest argument for the permancy of
our market But in the near future they
will show good dividend. Wise econo-
my, answering integrity and manly en-
ergY will IN time make our comlng IN
terest a safe investment.
All Things considered, we think the
farmer will find profit in planting and
raising tomatoes for our home market.